Container coating machine



surface than when operatingon the defrost cycle.

In the cooling unit, the freezing shelves l1 and It are operated at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit whereby quick freezing is always provided. This operation is possible because of the spaced semi-insulated mounting of the freezing shelves l1 and is within the enclosure I whereby the direct conduction of heat therebetween is avoided. The outer surfaces of the casing l are thereby maintained at such temperatures that the air circulating in the refrigerator cabinet is cooled without frost collecting on said surfaces at least part of the time.

In this arrangement the side walls of the enclosure 8 are cooled by the refrigerant evaporating conduit 25 through the convention air cur-- rents circulating in the enclosure, rather than compartment inspaced relation within said enclosure, and a refrigerant evaporating conduit secured to said freezing shelves. 1

3. A non-frosting two-temperature refrigerator, comprising a heat insulating cabinet, a cooling unit therein comprising an outer enclosure, a plurality of freezing plate shelves mounted in said enclosure in spaced semi-insulated relation to the side walls thereof, a cold compartment chamber mounted within said enclosure in spaced semi-insulated relation to the side walls, a refrigerant evaporating conduit disposed in said cold A chamber and extending in thermally coupled relation adjacent said freezing shelves in said outer by the conductive transmission of heat therebe- I tween. The cold chamber l3 spaced and semiinsulated from the outer enclosure. and directly,

associated with the refrigerant evaporating conduit encloses a space which is protected from the warm air convection currents of the refrigerator cabinet and which'is thereby cooled to a low temperature to provide for meats, desserts and the like.

Aside from the specific embodiment of the invention herein shown and descrlbed,.it will be understood that numerous details of the construction may be altered or omitted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described and claimed, and that I do not desire to limit the invention to the exact construction herein set forth.

I claim: 1. A non-frosting two-temperature cooling unit comprising an outer metallic enclosurega pluquick freezing of enclosure, a refrigerant compressor for drawing refrigerant vapor from said conduit and returnins liquid refrigerantrthereto, thermostatic control means comprising a temperature responsive element mounted on the outer surface of said outer enclosure for controlling the operation of said compressor.

4. A non-frosting two-temperature refrigerator comprising a heat insulating cabinet, a cool-5 ing unit therein comprising an outer enclosure, a plurality of freezing plate shelves mounted in said enclosure in spaced semi-insulated relation to the side walls thereof, a cold compartment I chamber mounted within said enclosure in spaced semi-insulated relation to the side walls, a refrigrality of freezing plate' shelves, insulating means for mounting said freezing plate sheiva in said enclosure in spaced relation to each other and to the side walls of the enclosure, a smallerfcold compartment chamber of which one of said freezing shelves, comprises a wall, insulating means for supporting said chamber in said enclosure in spaced relation thereto, and a refrigerant evaporating conduit disposed in said cold chamber erant evaporating conduit disposed in said cold chamber and extending in thermally coupled relation adjacent said freezing shelves in said outer enclosure, a refrigerant compressor for drawing refrigerant vapor from said conduit and returning liquid refrigerant thereto, thermostatic control means comprising a temperature responsive element mounted on the outer surfaces of said outer enclosure for controlling the operation of said compressor, to vaporize suiflcient refrigcooling said shelves be-' erant in said conduit for low the freezing temperature of water.

5. A cooling unit for freezing substances and for cooling circulating air within a refrigerator cabinet comprising an outer enclosure member, shelf means disposed within said enclosure member, insulating members for mounting said shelf means in spaced relation to the side walls of said outer enclosure member, a cold compartment plate shelves, insulatin'gimeans chamber, insulating members for supporting said chamber in said outer enclosure inspaced relation thereto, and refrigerant evaporating means entirely spaced from the side walls of said outer enclosure member and thermally associated with said cold chamber and with said shelf means for maintaining freezing temperatures 'withinsaid outer enclosure member.

LAWRENCE A. PHILIPP.

4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 17, 1942;

' J. F. PRICE CONTAINER COATING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1939 Nov. 17, 1942. J. F. PRICE CONTAINER COATING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT OR.

. fl'ice ATTORNEYS M WHH NOV. 17, 1942. PR|E 2,302,053

CONTAINER COATING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORI BY hfojuz fl'ice ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 17,1942. J, F, PmcE 2,302,053

CONTAINER COATING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 E- El I W //3 i I if 3 //5 i i yak INVENTOR. Q BY lm/ 3 IL ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. '17, 1942 CONTAINER COATING MACHINE John F. Price, Fulton, N. Y., assignor to Oswego Falls Corporation, Fulton, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 26, 1939, Serial No.'286,637-

4 Claimsl such as paperboard, are generally coated with a material to make the container liquid tight. This coating may consist of a wax, such as paraffin, or a lacquer formed of various materials, for example, resinous materials.

If the container is coated with wax, the coating is usually applied by immersing the container in a receptacle containing the wax in melted form. In order to obtain the desired finish, and to hasten the setting of the wax to permit volume reduction, the containers are usually immersed n a cooling vat containing, in addition to the cooling medium, materials effective to sterilize the coating applied to the container.

This invention has to do more in particular with a machine for coating a fibrous container with a wax coating and subsequently conveying the coated container through a cooling solution or medium.

The invention has as an object a container coating machlneof the type referred to embodying a structure whereby an evencoating is applied effectively to a continuous procession of containers traveling at a comparatively fast rate.

The invention has as a further object a machine of the type referred to embodying. in combination with the coating mechanism, a mechanism for effectively cooling the coated containers as they are discharged from the coating mecha nism.

The invention has asa further object a particularly efficient mechanism operable to transfer the coated containers from the coatingmechchineembodying the above features which result in aparticularly compact unit particularly well suited for use in combination with a container making machine, and which operates to ciliciently and rapidly coat the containers as they are discharged from the container making machine. In other words, the-compact-arrangement of the machine permits its use in the plant of the container user. For example, the machine may be operated in a dairy to coat paper milk bottles manufactured in the dairy.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

'In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding'pa'rts in all the views.

anism to the cooling mechanism. The cooling,

mechanism embodies a particularly simple structure operable to convey the containers through the cooling medium and preventing the cooling medium from entering the interior of the containers.

The invention further includes a particularly simple and efficient means associated with the cooling mechanism for automatically engaging the tops of the coated containers, supporting the same during conveyance through the cooling medium, and subsequently releasing the contain ers after the coating has become set thereon.

The general object of the invention is a ma Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention in its entirety, with the top of the casing of the coating mechanism removed.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, looking to the left of the machine shown in Figure 1, with parts removed and parts shown in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the ma- Sihine with parts broken away and parts in sec- Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the inner side of the conveyor associated with the cooling mechanism.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of one of the container carrying members.

Figure 6 is an inverted planview of carrying member. I V

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of the bottle transfer turret and mechanism for removing excess wax from the top of the container.

The machine comprises a base l0 upon which the coating and cooling mechanisms are arranged in parallel relationship. The coating mechanism includes a casing, the lower portion ll of which forms a tank for the coating medium i2. The casing further consists of side walls l3, l4, upon a container which is mounted a framework [5 provided with a sheet metal covering 16, the covering being omitted in Figure 1.

A shaft I1 is journalled in the forward end of the casing extending transversely thereof, and a shaft I8 is likewise journal'ied in the rear portion of the casing. A pair of sprocket wheels I! are mounted upon each of the shafts ll, [8.

A conveyor chain 20 is trained over the sprocket wheels IS, with a chain extending in juxtaposition to each side member i3, H. The chains 20 'the steam being admitted thereto through the pipe 25.

The containers are deposited intermediate the cleats 2| at a point near the forward sprocket wheels mounted upon the shaft". A guide rail 21 is-secured to the inner side of each of the side walls |3, I4, and extends lengthwise of the casing below each of the conveyor chains, and extends inwardly to form a support for the top and bot-,

tom of the containers C while they are being conveyed by the cleats 2|. The forwardand rear ends of the rails 21 are'curved downwardly, as

anism. The container making machine is usually not timed with the coating machine, and for this reason the chute is provided with a movable stop member 31 pivoted to the chute, as at 38. The stop member 31 is connected to a lever 33 pivoted at one end to a bracket 40 carried by the framework l5. The opposite end of the lever is connected to a link 4| extending upwardly and connected at its upper end to'the sto member 31. The lever 39 is provided'intermediate its ends with a roller 42 engaging the surface of a cam disk 43 provided with a plurality of lobes. The disk 43 is mounted upon a shaft 44 jourat 28, about the outer .periphery of the sprocket wheels l9, and a lower guide rail 29 is arranged below the lower runof each conveyor chain and is formed with upwardly curved end portions arranged in spaced apart relation from the curved ends 28 of the upper rails.

The shaft I1 is rotated in aclockwise direction (Figure 2). Accordingly, the containers C are .conveyed downwardly between thecurved end portions 28, 36 of the guide rails and conveyed lengthwise of the casing through the coating medium 12, and upwardly through the curved rear ends of the guide rails and along the upper rail 21 toward the forward end of the machine.

While the containers are beingconveyed, a rolling or planetary action is imparted thereto, with the result that the coating medium is evenly applied to the inner and outer surfaces of the container. In order that the excess wax within the containers may be drained therefrom, the containers are maintained in an inclined position while they are advanced toward the front of the machine by the upper run of the conveyor. Thisis accomplished by a third upper rail 3| extending adjacent the outer top rail 21. The upper edge of the rail 3| is arranged above the outer rail 21, and the bottom end of the container is accordingly elevated causing the excess coating material to drain out of the top end of the container. The coating remaining on both' the inner and outer surfaces of the container is evenly distributed by the rolling action as the containers pass forwardly along the upper rails 21, 3|. The cleats 2| are provided with a notch or cut-out portion 32 to accommodate the rail 3|.

The outer upper rail 21 terminates as at 33, the inner rail terminating a short distance forwardly of the outer rail, as at 34. Accordingly,

as the containers are advanced forwardly, the bottom of the container falls as it passes off from the rail 3| and outer rail 21, during which time the top of the container is still supported by the inner rail 21. from within the cleats 2| in a vertical position top uppermost. The containers are dropped upon a transfer member hereinafter described.

Preferably, the coating and cooling machine is arranged in proximity to the container making machine, and the containers are transferred from the container making machine to the coating machine through a chute provided with a lower curved end portion 36 arranged to deposit the containers transversely of the coating mech- Accordingly, the containers drop nailed in bearings 45 mounted upon the framework l5. The lever 39 is elevated periodically upon rotation of the cam disk 43 and, when elevated, actuates the stop member 31 out of container engaging position permitting a container previously engaged to drop downwardly toward the curved portion 36 of the chute. I

Means is provided for positively depositing the containers between the cleats 2| in timed relation with the operation of the coating conveyor. This means consists of a disk 46 secured on the shaft 44 intermediate the bearings 45. The disk is provided with a plurality-of radially extending pleats 41 which, upon rotation of the disk 46, travels through the arcuate portion 36 of the chute 35. The shaft 44 is. connected to a transversely extending shaft 50 through beveled gears 5|. The shaft 50 is journalled in suitable bearings also mounted upon the framework l5, and the shaft is operatively connected with the shaft |1 through a chain 53 trained over sprockets mounted on the shafts I1, 50. The arrangement is such that when the stop member 31 is moved out of container engaging position, one of the pleats 41 is positioned in the arcuate portion of the chute, whereby the released container drops onto the plate. The. disk 46 is rotated ixr synchronism with movement of the conveyor by the motion transmitting mechanism just described.

' tically extending shaft 6| through reduction gearing 62. The lower end of the shaft 6| is operatively connected to a jack shaft 63 through beveled gearing 64. The outer end of the shaft 63 is provided with a sprocket wheel65, and a chain-66 is trained thereover, and over a sprocket wheel 61 also mounted upon the shaft 1.

As the containers are released from the coat-' ing conveyor, they are deposited upon a transfer member in the nature of a turret 63 mounted upon a vertical axis and having a substantial arcuate portion extending outside of the casing of the coating mechanism. The turret 68 consists of an outer table portion and an inner dome shaped portion 69. The dome shaped portion is formed with a plurality of radially extending ribs 16. As the bottom end of the containers pass off from the end 33 of the outer top guide rail, the contaiher falls downwardly with the bottom arranged on the table portion of the turret, as indicated in dotted outline Figure 1. The turret rotates clockwise Figure 1, and the containers are accordingly transferred out of the coating mechanism in an upright position.

It will be understood that the containers Care provided at their upper ends with an annular metallic member having 'an inwardly extending ledge II. The ledge II has a tendency to accumulate asurplus of coating material; which interferes with the. capping of the container inasmuch as it does not permit the cap to properly seat upon the ledge II. To eflect removal of this surplus coating,- the machine is. provided with an air valve 12 provided with a discharge nozzle 12' and having an operating stem 13.

The nozzle 12* is so arranged that the tops of the containers pass thereunder during movement upon the turret and the stem 13 is periodically actuated to open the valve 12 by engagement with the ribs 10. The arrangement is such that a blast of air is directed in the top of each container as it is moving on the turret 00. This the sump I5 by a motor driven pump 11 mounted in the base I0 and having an inlet pipe I0 and an outlet pipe I9 arranged in the tank 10. The cooling solution is maintained at the pro er level a i in the tank 10 by an, overflow trough 00. having a discharge 02 into the sump I6.

The conveyor system of the cooling mechanism chains 90 trained about sprocket wheels 0i. pair of sprocket wheels is mounted upon the shaft 6I and the other pair of sprocketsmounted upon a vertically extending shaft 02. The upper end of the shaft 6| and the shaft 92 are journailed in'a frame member supported by columns 95 extending upwardly from the base I0. The sprocket wheels, mounted upon the shaft 6|, are secured thereto and rotatable therewith. Each of the chains "is provided at predetermined intervals with brackets 00 provided with square apertures to slidably receive vertically arranged spindles 91. The inner run of t e chains 90 is arranged to pass over the table portion of the turret 60, and the tank 60 is of suiiicient width to permit containers. secured to the lower ends of the spindles 91, to be conveyed through the cooling medium, see Figure 1.

The conveyor further includes a track coextensive with the chains 90 and supported by a pluconsists of a pair of vertically spaced apart- One The track also includes a lower section I05 extending about substantially the rear half of the conveyor and being connected to theupper section I00 throughinclined sections I06, there being one inclined section I06 arranged on the inner and outer side of the conveyor. The purpose of the inclined sections, I06 and the rear lower section I0! is to permit thespindles 91 to descend an appreciable distance while being conveyed about the rear half of the conveyor, or while being conveyed over the cooling tank 60.

' Normally, that is while containers are attached to the lower ends of the spindles-81, the rollers I00 do not pass through the rear half portion of the upper, section I00, but travel down the inner inclined track section I06 about the lower section I06 and upwardly on the outer inclined track section I06 and thence about the forward .half of the upper section I00.

Means is provided, at the lower endof each of the spindles 01, for automatically securing a coated container to the spindle. This means comprises a container engaging member orchuck formed with a body portion I00 having depending circumferentially spaced apart ribs I 09. The body section is formed with radially extending bosses IIO provided with apertures to slidably receive pins I II. The upper ends of the pins II I are secured to a disk H2 having a depending flange I'll provided on one side with a substantial cut-out portion or slot H0. The container carrying chucks are also provided with a plurality of spring fingers II'6 provided at their I lower ends with notches II6 to yieldingly engage the bead III atthe top of the container C.

As the spindles pass about the forward sprockets 0i, they descend towardthe turret-60, this descent being eflected by the inner inclined track section I02. The arrangement is such that the lower end I00 of the chuckbody enters the top of the container and the chuck body is pressed against the top edge of the container with the lingers I15 engagingthe bead 9n the container, as illustrated in Figure 5.

The lower ends of the pins I I I rest against the top edge of the container and accordingly, the disk II! is elevated slightly from the body I00. The containersare thus detachably, but firmly secured to the lower ends ofthe spindles and as the spindles move rearwardly, the rollers I00 pass downwardly on the inner inclined track section I06, causing thecontainers to be immersed subrality of brackets 98 extending from the frame member 90. The track is channel shaped in cross section, and consists of an upper section I00 extending along the inner and outer sides of the conveyor and about the rear end thereof in a plane in proximity to the upper chain member. The forward portion 101. of the upper track section I 00. is elevated slightly about the remainder of said section and is connected therewith by short inclined portions I02 arranged on the inner and outer side of the conveyor.

Each of the spindles 91 is provided with a roller I00 arranged to travel in the track. A cordingly, as the chains 90 move about the s rocket wheels 9|, the spindles are elevated slightly while passing around the forwardsprockets on shaft 6|.

stantially their entire length into the cooling solution. The rollers continue to run in the lower track section I05, and the containers are accord-- ingiy maintained in the cooling solution while the spindles are traveling rearwardly and forwardly about the rear portion of the conveyor.- The-inner and outer inclined track. section I05 is arranged to effect downward movement of the containers into the cooling solution when the containers have passed the forward edge of tank I0 and to elevate the containers out of the cooling solution before reaching the forward edge of the tank I0 on the outer run of the conveyor. The rollers I00 now continue through the outer run of the forward portion of the upper track section I06 until they engage the outer inclined section I02, whereupon the spindles are elevated moving the disk II2 into engagement with a roller I-IB mounted upon the frame of the machine, whereupon the container is ejected from the spring fingers I I5 by the pins II I.

As previously described, the cooling conveyor 5 is operated in synchronism with the coating con- 

